Dent Removal Method and Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The dent removal assembly of the present application is configured to apply a gradual distributed pressure to a hardened material for the purpose of removing dents. The assembly is operable with any vehicle or other tool or panel where a dent may be present. The assembly is configured to regulate the flow of air into and out of the assembly in a controlled manner to cause a desired effect. Air is selectively inserted into an airbag to expand. The expansion presses against a dent and uniformly applies pressure to the dent so as to push it out to a desired position. The method may include the use of one or more braces or the use of a plurality of stacked airbags side to side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/879,170, filed 26 Jul. 2019, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to a method of removing dents from a vehicle, and more particularly to dent removal in general through the use of an airbag.

2. Description of Related Art

A dent is a slight hollow or undesired uneven contour formed along the surface of a hardened material. Most typically, dents are associated easily with vehicles where the body of the vehicle is susceptible to deformations upon an impact. Most of the time a dent is not that worrisome to a user if the object that is dented is a tool or minimal in value and does not affect performance. However, with respect to vehicles, this is not usually the case. Dents in cars/trucks stick out and can be very noticeable. Additionally, these vehicles are often expensive compared to most purchases. It is desired for dents to be removed from vehicles.

Dents are customarily removed via a few different methods. First, small dents can be removed over time as temperature fluctuations occur. Therefore, to speed up the dent removal process, repairmen may apply a heat or cold temperature to the body panel to instigate movement and removal of the dent. Other methods may include the use of rods to push the dent outward from the inside. Where access inside the body panel is limited, such as with 2 layered body panels, a suction may be applied to the outer layer to pull the dent out. Each of these methods has a limitation associated therewith.

Although strides have been made to provide improved dent removal techniques, shortcomings remain.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present application to provide a method of dent removal in an effort to avoid the damage caused by rods that put localized pressure and can mar the surface of a panel. The dent removal assembly of the present application is configured to apply a gradual distributed pressure on the panel. A broadly applied pressure equally distributed on the surface of a dent avoids further damaging to a surface. The assembly is configured to regulate the flow of air into and out of an airbag located adjacent the dent. Air is selectively inserted into an airbag to expand. The expansion presses against a dent and uniformly applies pressure to the dent so as to push it out to a desired position. The method may include the use of one or more braces or the use of a plurality of stacked airbags side to side.

Ultimately the invention may take many embodiments. In these ways, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the prior art. The more important features have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and to ensure that the present contribution to the art is appreciated. Additional features will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of the present application will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the various purposes of the present design. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dent removal assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of an airbag in the dent removal assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the airbag of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the dent removal assembly of FIG. 1 with multiple airbags.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the airbag of FIG. 3 in operation.

While the embodiments and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the application to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the preferred embodiment are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present application, the devices, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the embodiments described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.

The embodiments and method in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with the prior art discussed previously. The dent removal assembly of the present application is configured to apply a gradual distributed pressure to a hardened material for the purpose of removing dents. The assembly is operable with any vehicle or other tool or panel where a dent may be present. The assembly is configured to regulate the flow of air into and out of the assembly in a controlled manner to cause a desired effect. Air is selectively inserted into an airbag to expand. The expansion presses against a dent and uniformly applies pressure to the dent so as to push it out to it's proper position. These and other unique features are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments and method will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the assembly may be presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless otherwise described.

Referring now to the Figures wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout the several views. The following Figures describe embodiments of the present application and its associated features. With reference now to the Figures, embodiments of the present application are herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1 in the drawings, a perspective view of the dent removal assembly 101 is illustrated. Assembly 101 includes a pump 103, a valve 105, and an airbag 107. Pump 103 is configured to pressurize air into airbag 107 so as to cause inflation of airbag 107. Valve 105 is configured to regulate the air pressure within airbag 107. Through operation, assembly 101 is configured to apply a regulated amount of pressure onto a working material to remove a dent when airbag 107 is expanded.

Pump 103 is shown as a portable hand operated pump. Various different pumps may be used and each can be configured to operate in different ways. For example, manual operated pumps similar to small hand pumps can be used. Conversely, pump 103 may be mechanically driven or powered through a power supply wherein a small motor may be used to induce pressurized air. On a larger scale, a motor (fuel powered) may be used to run pump 103. A lot of dents are removed from vehicles in shops or at dealerships where access is available to large compressed air units that are run in a plurality of ways. Pump 103 may be such a device. The depicted hand operated style in FIG. 1 is not meant to be limited. Pump 103, in whatever form, is configured to provide pressurized air into airbag 107.

From pump 103 is a tube 109 or line that routes the pressurized air between pump 103 and airbag 107. Typically, this line is flexible to permit maneuvering of the assembly 101 to different tight locations on the vehicle. Tube 109 is coupled to both the airbag 107 and pump 103 via a compression style fitting and/or some adapter.

Valve 105 is in fluid communication with the pressurized air and is configured to regulate the introduction of air into airbag 107 and the release of pressurized air out of airbag 107. The opening and closing of valve 105 can allow pressurized air in airbag 107 to escape to the atmosphere. Valve 105 may be located on any portion of assembly 105 but is at least in communication with the pressurized air of airbag 107 in some manner. Ideally, valve 105 is distal from airbag 107 to make it easier to reach and operate by a user as the airbag is in place.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the drawings, enlarged views of airbag 107 is illustrated. Airbag 107 is configured to be a single walled or multi-walled body that includes a hollowed cavity therein. The walls are flexible and can be set to carry any desired pressure. As seen in FIG. 2, airbag 107 is relatively flat, or void of pressured air. In FIG. 3, pressurized air is placed within airbag 107 and the walls have expanded.

Referring now also to FIG. 4 in the drawings, an alternate view of assembly 101 is illustrated wherein multiple airbags are used with a single pump. The air bags may be individually operated through the pump or combined so as to collectively operate in unison.

Referring now also to FIG. 5 in the drawings, a side view of airbag 107 is shown between an object 111 (i.e. panel) and a brace 113. A dent 115 is shown in object 111. The dent is an undesired protrusion that was pressed along a particular surface. Object 111 has a first surface 117 and a second surface 119. Dent 115, in this example, extends or protrudes in along first surface 117.

Brace 113 is a stationary part or object that is secure enough to handle the pressures expected in the airbag 107 without deflecting or moving. Some deflection may be realized or detected but it is sufficient that brace 113 is rigid enough to allow expanding pressure in airbag 107 to push primarily/predominantly against dent. The more brace 113 moves the more pressure may be needed to affect the positional change of dent 115. Brace 115 may be a random object selectively inserted behind airbag 107 or may be a already present in the environment. For example, brace 113 may be a scrap piece of wood or it may be an inner panel or part of a car wherein the airbag 107 is located between that inner part and the outer body panel with the dent 115.

In operation, airbag 107 is situated between object 111 and brace 113. A first side 121 of airbag 107 is adjacent dent 115 along first surface 117. A second side 123 of airbag 107 is adjacent brace 113. Air is introduced into airbag 107 via pump 103. The speed at which airbag 107 expands may be regulated through valve 105. The user gradually fills the airbag which applies a distributed force to first surface 117 of the dent 115. The equal force and type of material in the airbag can avoid marring of either object 111 or brace 113. The pressure pushes the dent outward toward second surface 119. The airbag is configured to fill and match the contour of the originally shaped panel to prevent over correcting of the dent. The equal distribution of pressure to a dent is far superior compared to isolated rod contact points. When finished, airbag 107 may be depressurized by releasing the air pressure therein to allow for removal of the airbag 107.

It is understood that one or more airbags may be sequentially aligned between object 111 and brace 113. Each of those airbags may be pressurized through a singular pump or plurality of pumps. Each may be pressurized simultaneously or in a sequential pattern. Not all airbags 107 must be the same size or shape. Assembly 101 may use different shaped and sized airbags simultaneously wherein each may have its own independent valve to regulate air pressure therein. The airbags are not limited to the shapes depicted.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the application may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. It is apparent that an application with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dent removal assembly, comprising: a pump; an airbag in communication with the pump; a valve to regulate air pressure within the airbag;
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump is manually actuated.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump is mechanically driven.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag is a multi-walled body.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a flexible tube coupling between the pump and the airbag, the tube housing a portion of the valve.
 6. A method of removing a dent from an object, comprising: situating a first airbag adjacent a first surface of the dent, the first surface being a side of the object where the dent protruded, the first airbag having a first side and a second side, the first side adjacent the dent; bracing the second side of the first airbag opposite the first surface; regulating air pressure within the first airbag to increase the volume of the first airbag such that expansion of the first airbag pushes outward on the dent; and releasing pressure within the first airbag to permit removal from the object.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein a pump is used to provide air to pressurize the airbag.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the pressure is released by actuating a valve.
 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: inserting a second airbag between a brace and the airbag.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein air pressure is regulated in both the first airbag and the second airbag to apply pressure to the dent.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a single pump is used to regulate air pressure in both the first airbag and the second airbag. 